Mark, I do realize that church and state intertwined. As to whether anything could exist without God -- that's not on point here but rather a strawman you are introducing.

The issue is this -- this particular Republican legislator decided to withdraw her support of a measure proposed by the Republican governor of Louisiana not because it even more closely sought to intertwine church as state, but rather because the bill would not exclude 'other' church schools (ie non-Christian).

In Arizona we have in place a law which allows citizens to get a tax credit of up to $1000 for couples, for 'contributions' to organizations specifically set up to provide tuition for religious schools. Since it is a tax credit, it dollar for dollar reduces state revenues and redirects them to religious schools. At the same time state funding for public schools has been cut quite significantly. Like Governor Jindal's bill, this redirection of funds is not religion specific.

Being both a financial pragmatist and a fairly observant Jew (three services a week, along with other active participation in our synagogue), my wife and I do redirect that $1000 a year to the Jewish Tuition organization. I do that and at the same time admit to some qualms over the implications for that church/state line.

It's not a strawman argument. It's a point of fact that there would be nothing if it wasn't for His Design.

There is no wall of seperation of Church/Synagogue/what have ya, from state. It was written as it was to Keep ONE Church from being at the Federal level, like the Catholic Church in 1776 in England and France. Some states like Maryland for example have a state Faith and that was Catholic. Many other states had state Faiths that were Protestant.

ID as others have so effectively pointed out (though never to your satisfaction of course), what for you is 'a point of fact' is in fact, your *opinion*. I respect your right to hold forth regarding your opinion. Your misrepresentation of that opinion as if it was fact is consistent with your faith and world view, but it is a confusion on your part which I realize is a concrete and absolute state of mind for you.

I suspect you've not read the referenced article nor for that matter my replies (why should you as they don't conform with your concrete and absolute view of things).

To repeat, on the off chance you mind read this reply, the issue for that particular legislator was not one of separation of church and state -- she believes firmly they should be fully intermingled -- the issue was that the legislation proposed did not limit the intermingling to *her* faith alone and this was something with which she could not abide.

I regularly attend my synagogue (three times weekly) perhaps more than most (or perhaps all) the other participants on the political message board attend their church/synagogue/mosque/temple of choice. So when I get preached to by folks of other faiths who insist their view is the only true and absolute one, my ability to resist, firm in my own faith and observance is quite solid.

ID as others have so effectively pointed out (though never to your satisfaction of course), what for you is 'a point of fact' is in fact, your *opinion*. I respect your right to hold forth regarding your opinion. Your misrepresentation of that opinion as if it was fact is consistent with your faith and world view, but it is a confusion on your part which I realize is a concrete and absolute state of mind for you.

I suspect you've not read the referenced article nor for that matter my replies (why should you as they don't conform with your concrete and absolute view of things).

To repeat, on the off chance you mind read this reply, the issue for that particular legislator was not one of separation of church and state -- she believes firmly they should be fully intermingled -- the issue was that the legislation proposed did not limit the intermingling to *her* faith alone and this was something with which she could not abide.

I regularly attend my synagogue (three times weekly) perhaps more than most (or perhaps all) the other participants on the political message board attend their church/synagogue/mosque/temple of choice. So when I get preached to by folks of other faiths who insist their view is the only true and absolute one, my ability to resist, firm in my own faith and observance is quite solid.

But, it isn't my opinion. It is the opinion of the founders/framers. There is no misrepresentation of the fact. Example...

I did read and I did reply. In the Federal Government for good morals and ethics to work correctly one must take their own brand of Faith with them to the Halls of Congress. I have no problem with your Jewish Faith, none. Im grateful to the Jewish Nation for the Law, and many other things for that matter. I would expect you if elected to take your Faith with you. As I would my own if elected. But I would object to a one Faith fits all from the Federal Government. This argument was bantered in the Federalist Papers. The Contract called the Constitution accepted by all Fifty States.

In a state, if it is voted on and accepted by the voters, a state Faith can be declared, much like a state bird or flag. The fact of this, or for that matter the lack of this, cannot in any way stop or deter you from your Jewish Faith. A state Constitution cannot be out of line with the Federal Constitution. A state Constitution can be more laxed or more stringent the the Federal Constitution but the letter of the law [Federal] in this case is that it cannot be a Federal Faith, one fits all kinda thing, and a state cannot stop you from Worshipping where and when you wish.

Whatever the faith of the founders, it was reputed by the states and rather rapidly with the adoption of the Bill of Rights which was seen as necessary to fix serious errors in the original document. Perhaps you should address the first of those amendments. Does the Federalist or Anti Federalist address this issue? How about the debate of the persons drafting this amendment. How about the debate in the legislatures adopting or rejecting this amendment? What does SCOTUS have to say about this? Since you state you are for the rule of law, isn't SCOTUS the final arbitrator of law?

Whatever the faith of the founders, it was reputed by the states and rather rapidly with the adoption of the Bill of Rights which was seen as necessary to fix serious errors in the original document. Perhaps you should address the first of those amendments. Does the Federalist or Anti Federalist address this issue? How about the debate of the persons drafting this amendment. How about the debate in the legislatures adopting or rejecting this amendment? What does SCOTUS have to say about this? Since you state you are for the rule of law, isn't SCOTUS the final arbitrator of law?

Whatever the faith of the founders, it was reputed by the states and rather rapidly with the adoption of the Bill of Rights which was seen as necessary to fix serious errors in the original document.

I was bantered, and accepted, first ten and then the 11th added. You did not ask a question you made a statement.

Perhaps you should address the first of those amendments.

Once again you make a statement. Freedom to Worship. Just done that. You appear to be a tad bit behind...

Does the Federalist or Anti Federalist address this issue?

You mean Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers? The answer is yes, they both address the issue. I have read them both. It would do me no good not to look at the other side of the issue. However, you will not find your [and others "Health Care"] argument in either papers. Both side were deeply in a Faith of some sort. The issue is what it is. Government is not a blank check...

How about the debate of the persons drafting this amendment.

A statement...

How about the debate in the legislatures adopting or rejecting this amendment?

What about it? It was bantered and accepted, the Federalist view. All 50 states thereafter also accepted it.

What does SCOTUS have to say about this? Since you state you are for the rule of law, isn't SCOTUS the final arbitrator of law?

Whatever the faith of the founders, it was reputed by the states and rather rapidly with the adoption of the Bill of Rights which was seen as necessary to fix serious errors in the original document. Perhaps you should address the first of those amendments. Does the Federalist or Anti Federalist address this issue? How about the debate of the persons drafting this amendment. How about the debate in the legislatures adopting or rejecting this amendment? What does SCOTUS have to say about this? Since you state you are for the rule of law, isn't SCOTUS the final arbitrator of law?

Whatever the faith of the founders, it was reputed by the states and rather rapidly with the adoption of the Bill of Rights which was seen as necessary to fix serious errors in the original document. Perhaps you should address the first of those amendments. Does the Federalist or Anti Federalist address this issue? How about the debate of the persons drafting this amendment. How about the debate in the legislatures adopting or rejecting this amendment? What does SCOTUS have to say about this? Since you state you are for the rule of law, isn't SCOTUS the final arbitrator of law?

Gary, how dare you use history and deductive logic on ID?

You appear to have a very low threshold in deductive logic.

betreger, it appears as if you are correct. ID appears to be incapable of even simple deductive reasoning. I believe there is a pejorative name for such a person.

It now appears that he wishes to teach a class on debate techniques and not discuss the issue. If this was a meeting covered by Robert's Rules, the chair would rule him out of order and impose sanctions for such conduct. Alas this forum is not covered by such a rule so we must put up with this.

Whatever the faith of the founders, it was reputed by the states and rather rapidly with the adoption of the Bill of Rights which was seen as necessary to fix serious errors in the original document. Perhaps you should address the first of those amendments. Does the Federalist or Anti Federalist address this issue? How about the debate of the persons drafting this amendment. How about the debate in the legislatures adopting or rejecting this amendment? What does SCOTUS have to say about this? Since you state you are for the rule of law, isn't SCOTUS the final arbitrator of law?

Gary, how dare you use history and deductive logic on ID?

You appear to have a very low threshold in deductive logic.

betreger, it appears as if you are correct. ID appears to be incapable of even simple deductive reasoning. I believe there is a pejorative name for such a person.

It now appears that he wishes to teach a class on debate techniques and not discuss the issue. If this was a meeting covered by Robert's Rules, the chair would rule him out of order and impose sanctions for such conduct. Alas this forum is not covered by such a rule so we must put up with this.

Gary, IMO ID thrashes and flails around much like a freshly caught salmon. Lots of movement and getting nowhere.

Gary, IMO ID thrashes and flails around much like a freshly caught salmon. Lots of movement and getting nowhere.

Were it so, because soon the salmon would be consumed. IMO ID is more like a tyke who has to throw a temper tantrum until he is appeased. I think there is a word for that, perhaps it is troll? Perhaps we should both put him on ignore and get on with adult discussion of serious topics?

Perhaps, as we've seen, he believes his opinions to be fact supported by his selective interpretation of texts. He will persist in that and whenever challenged will repeat his position or move off to another topic as if in response (in this he is quite consistent). An example of this is his 'response' to my originating post in the thread. I felt perhaps he simply missed the point and so restated it in response to his post -- his response demonstrated yet again that he missed the point. This is not a surprise to me -- sort of an FM versus AM thing I guess.

His response to those who disagree is to regale them with how wrong they are - often because he says they are wrong.

We could, I suppose simply 'walk around' the mess on the floor, but I have this inclination to clean it up.

One thing I will readily accord to him -- he has his beliefs and they are core and essential to him. For that I respect him.

IMO ID is more like a tyke who has to throw a temper tantrum until he is appeased. I think there is a word for that, perhaps it is troll? Perhaps we should both put him on ignore and get on with adult discussion of serious topics?

Perhaps, as we've seen, he believes his opinions to be fact supported by his selective interpretation of texts. He will persist in that and whenever challenged will repeat his position or move off to another topic as if in response (in this he is quite consistent). An example of this is his 'response' to my originating post in the thread. I felt perhaps he simply missed the point and so restated it in response to his post -- his response demonstrated yet again that he missed the point. This is not a surprise to me -- sort of an FM versus AM thing I guess.

His response to those who disagree is to regale them with how wrong they are - often because he says they are wrong.

We could, I suppose simply 'walk around' the mess on the floor, but I have this inclination to clean it up.

One thing I will readily accord to him -- he has his beliefs and they are core and essential to him. For that I respect him.

IMO ID is more like a tyke who has to throw a temper tantrum until he is appeased. I think there is a word for that, perhaps it is troll? Perhaps we should both put him on ignore and get on with adult discussion of serious topics?

Whatever the faith of the founders, it was reputed by the states and rather rapidly with the adoption of the Bill of Rights which was seen as necessary to fix serious errors in the original document. Perhaps you should address the first of those amendments. Does the Federalist or Anti Federalist address this issue? How about the debate of the persons drafting this amendment. How about the debate in the legislatures adopting or rejecting this amendment? What does SCOTUS have to say about this? Since you state you are for the rule of law, isn't SCOTUS the final arbitrator of law?

Errors? The Bill of Rights was for the personal rights of the one.

I have and did post about this subject BEFORE this thread opened. The first amendment was placed in the Constitution to ensure that we had the freedom to worship as we see fit. No one size fits all Faith like in England. The Pilgrims came here for the right to worship freely.

In this first amendment we see that there would be no federal Faith. As I have said many states had their own state Faith like Maryland for example it was Catholic.

No, SCOTUS the final arbitrator of law. We have the amendment process.